Knowledge can last, principles can last, habits can last; but feelings come and go... But, of course, ceasing to be "in love" need not mean ceasing to love. Love in this second sense - love as distinct from "being in love" - is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by {in Christian marriage} the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God... "Being in love" first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enables them to keep the promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.
C.S. Lewis emphasizes the distinction between "being in love" and love itself. The initial passionate feelings of being in love are fleeting, while true love is a commitment that transcends emotions. It is a unity between partners that relies on willpower and conscious effort, further supported by faith and divine grace, particularly in Christian marriages.
This enduring love is what sustains a marriage over time. While the excitement of being in love initiates the relationship and prompts vows of fidelity, it is this deeper, more stable form of love that ensures those promises are honored. Thus, the essence of a lasting marriage is rooted in unwavering love, not just the transient feelings that may fade.
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